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How to Repot Pond Plants

How to Repot Pond Plants

Spring is the ideal time to for the water garden pond keeper to repot pond plants into slightly larger pots or baskets, renewing the pond soil and giving the roots space to grow. The water at the edge of your pond will be warming up with the increased sun levels as the days get longer and your pond plants will be starting to come into growth.

Choose a slightly larger pond basket for your plant and make sure your planting shelf is deep enough for the new basket.
Pondh2o have a great range of baskets for every type of need.

How to repot pond Plants

 

Step One

Knock the plant out of the old basket. You may need to cut it out if the roots have worked through the mesh. It won’t harm the plant if you prune the roots free.

Step Two

Cut out dead or damaged material and remove weeds or duckweed from around the plant. Pull the roots out a bit if they are tightly packed into the the shape of the old basket.

Step Three

Use a hessian liner and fresh pond specific soil with the new pond basket.  Place the plant in the basket and firmly press the aquatic soil around the root till the pot is 75% full.
Using soil suitable for planting aquatic plants ideally should be a medium to heavy loam. Garden soil can be used if it is free from fertilizer and herbicides. Otherwise, a proprietary aquatic compost should be ideally used.

Step Four

Add a layer of pond gravel on the top to stop the soil leaching into your pond and the fish digging in the soil.

How to Repot Pond Plants

Thank you for taking the time to read our article on how to repot pond plants.  Be sure to check out our Information Center for other Pond Blogs.  As always, remember to follow us on social media via our Facebook page for coupons and news.

Rising Spring Pond Water Temperature

Rising Spring Pond Water Temperature, What To Know

Spring is around the corner, the sun will get stronger and the spring pond water temperature will rise.

What happens to your fish?

Feeding becomes more evident as the spring pond water temperature increases.  Carp and similar species have no stomach just a long intestine, when the water goes over 55 Degrees Fahrenheit, they begin to absorb more, eat more and finally come out of winter hibernation.  Increase your feeding and use a higher protein food as the fish can now utilize it.  The fishes respiration increases as the water becomes less dense and the temperature increases, so look at the oxygen levels, turn the fountain or waterfall back on to increase O2 levels.

Add an aerator, if needed, to increase saturated oxygen levels as warmer water will not hold as much oxygen, particularly when the temperature hits 85 degrees Fahrenheit pond fish generally need a minimum of 7 ppm (parts per million) of dissolved oxygen. An average pond will drop down to 8 ppm of dissolved oxygen at 77 degrees Fahrenheit. At 86 degrees Fahrenheit, the amount of oxygen can drop to below 5ppm of dissolved oxygen.

What happens to the plants?

Rising Spring Pond Water Temperatures – What To Know

Plants wake back up again as the temperatures climb. Always trim back dead winter leaves to start and look at repotting if needed to allow the plant to flourish.

Pond Tips for Rising Pond Water Temperature

  • As the water temperature increases, add a spring bacteria to turbo boost the ecosystem
  • Check for Winter damage to the liner and filtration systems
  • Think about frogs and other amphibians who will want to use the pond, can they get out?
  • Read our other Pond Article on Spring Cleaning your Backyard Koi Fish Pond on this link!

Be sure to check out our Information Center for other Pond Blogs.  As always, remember to follow us on social media via our Facebook page for coupons and news.

 

Protect Your Pond Fish in Hot Weather

How To Protect Your Pond Fish in Hot Weather

Keeping Fish Safe and Healthy in Warmer Months

Depending on where you are located, at some point in the calendar year you will experience high temperatures, sometimes for a few days or a few months or even all year.
Here at PondH2o we have developed helpful tips to help you protect your pond fish in hot weather combat hot weather and the heat directly effecting your pond.

The hot weather can also cause problems for pond owners due to a phenomenon known as summer fish kill.  During hot weather water is capable of holding less dissolved oxygen than at cooler temperatures, and if there are large numbers of fish, organic wastes or aquatic plants in the pond the oxygen levels can plummet to dangerous levels with mainly larger fish being affected.

Top Seven Tips to Protect Your Pond Fish in Hot Weather:

  1. Keep water oxygenated, the most important, higher water temperatures suck the oxygen out of the water, why often in hot weather you see fish on the surface, this is because the oxygen levels are the highest on the surface.
  2. Don’t overfeed your fish, this adds stress to the pond fish and any uneaten food will rot down quickly causing water quality issues.
  3. Watch water levels. Evaporation is higher of course and a smaller volume of water will rise in temperature quicker. Remember if adding water to also use a dechlorinator if city water, again chlorine can inflame the gills and add to the stress.
  4. Provide shade, and a tarpaulin or large umbrella to help protect the pond from direct sunlight. Floating Planting Baskets work great.
  5. Make sure your pond is at least 2 feet deep.  This will help the fish by allowing them to keep out of direct sunlight and stay in the cooler parts of the pond.  Also, the more gallons a pond has enables you to control the temperature of the water.
  6. Use biological filters and skimmers, keep the water as clean and fish safe as possible, helps fish health and keeps stress down.
  7. Control algae, sucks the life out of the pond and then the fish.

 

Pond H20 has all the Pond Supplies you need!

For all ponds, big and small Pond H2o has the supplies you need to make your dream water feature come to life! When we say we have all the supplies you need, we mean it, we are a one-stop shop for all that you need. From an all-in-one pond kits to maintenance care and accessories, we have you covered! If you have any questions call us at 856-985-9339 or email us at info@pondh2o.com.  Check out our Facebook page for latest news and information.

String Algae pond filtration parts

What Causes String Algae?

String Algae, Carpet Algae, Blanketweed, Pond Scum the many different manners of the dreaded green bloom. Filamentous Algae is its true name as defined by Clemson EDU, Cladophora Glomerata (String Algae) is a common one. These algae form as thread-like structures that can be floating or attached to submerged items such as the pond walls or aquatic plants.

What causes Spring Algae?

Many different factors come into play, but these algae’s need food and this is usually the driver.  Often it can be seen at the start of the season, mainly due to the algae is faster out of the block, while slower marginals and lilies wake up and start to use up the nutrients in the pond ie phosphates and nitrates , the algae is off, growing rapidly.  Warming water and increasing sun levels also help string algae flourish.

How do I stop It?

Uv Lights do not work well against these Filamentous Algae’s, as the cells are not going through the quartz sleeve like single cell algae would.

Here are our top 5 tips to combat string algae:

  1. Easiest way is to break down the food chain by binding phosphates and other means to take away the food source. There are many different products on the pond market to do this.
  2. Physically removing the algae using a string algae brush.
  3. Plant more marginals and lilies to use up the excess nutrients; check out our plant baskets.
  4. Cut back on the fish food and this adds nutrients to the ponds. Use a Pond Feeder.
  5. Test the water for phosphates. Add Pond Treatments as needed.
  6. Pond tinting the water can also help to stop sunlight getting to the algae.

 

Pond H2O has all the Pond Supplies you need!

For all ponds, big and small Pond H2o has the supplies you need to make your dream water feature come to life! When we say we have all the supplies you need, we mean it, we are a one-stop shop for all that you need. From an all-in-one pond kit to maintenance care and accessories, we have you covered! If you have any questions call us at 856-985-9339 or email us at info@pondh2o.com.

EPDM Pond liner

Here Are Some Facts and Benefits for Using EPDM Pond liner

Here Are Some Facts and Benefits for Using EPDM Pond liner.  At Pond H2o, we have a bevy of pond liners you can purchase to keep your water garden pristine and healthy.  Today, however, we will be specifically assessing the effectiveness of EPDM pond liner, an option that offers both high quality and flexibility.

It provides versatility

Benefits for Using EPDM Pond liner

A koi pond under construction by Biofilter tech via Wikimedia Commons.

Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) pond liners are also known as one of the more flexible pond liners on the market. In other words, they can be used to form sizes and shapes at your discretion.  Typically, one sheet of EPDM rubber will be sufficient enough to meet the needs of your average pond. However, this will depend on your pond’s size. If yours is on the larger side, you can use multiple liners.

Easy Installation

Another of the benefits for using EPDM pond liner and a testament to pond liners, especially with the EPDM variation, is its simple installation. You don’t have to be a professional to install this pond liner. Although it should be noted that you will need butyl tape and top quality pond adhesive, like PondH2o’s product Gold Label sealant, to make sure the seams are waterproofed.

The quality is ensured

Benefits for Using EPDM Pond liner

Seaming a EPDM pond liner by Aquascape Ponds via YouTube.

There are other flexible pond liners that have trouble holding up over the course of time. However, EPDM liners provide your water garden koi fish pond with longevity—enabling you to save money in the long run. 

For example, if you opt for a low-grade plastic or vinyl pond liner, there’s a higher chance it will eventually develop cuts and tears. Another variation known as PVC liners—typically found in above ground swimming pools —tend to be susceptible to punctures, too. PVC Pond Liners have a great starting price point and are easy to install, but can dry out in the sunlight.  With EPDM liners, however, the material is much more resilient and longer lasting. 

Practicality

And there’s a practical reason for this. EPDM liners were originally made for flat roofs so that they can be more water resistant over time. However, once this liner became popularized and buyers made aware of its sturdy material, EPDM liners soon became one of the most widely used pond liners in the U.S.

After installation, you can be assured these are qualified for your pond and are fish friendly. And while there is no perfectly impervious pond liner on the market, this will provide you with much more resiliency and flexibility than the average.

It is important to note that since EPDM liners are made from high quality materials, they tend to be more expensive than its competitors. Although as the old adage goes, ‘you get what you pay for,’ and this is certainly the case with this variant. 

In the long run, you will be much less likely to replace this with other liners. In addition, an EPDM pond liner will withstand  harsh, colder climates, too. 

As far as upkeep, the most salient matter is to make sure your EPDM pond liner is consistently obfuscated from sunlight. Otherwise, the strength of the lining material can weaken over time.

Buy our fish pond liners designed to fit every budget today to get started, including from our EPDM, LDPE, and other pond liners.

Be sure to check out our Information Center for other Pond Blogs.  As always, remember to check our Facebook page for coupons and news.

Aerate Your Water Garden Pond

5 Reasons to Aerate Your Water Garden Pond

One of the more foundational elements of maintaining a clean pond is consistent aeration. Here are PondH2o’s 5 Reasons to Aerate Your Water Garden Pond.  

Some products out there work from the bottom up, while others utilize the inverse strategy. Either way, the overall goal to aerate your water garden pond is to increase the dissolved oxygen levels which equates to a healthy pond and fish habitat, especially during the winter time.

  • Find the correct sized aerator for your water garden

Many water garden ponds tend to rely exclusively on a collection of waterfalls for aeration. While this can be a solid and effective method, this typically results in aerating only the surface of the pond while the bottom remains neglected. Ultimately, this can create what is known as an anaerobic environment which means one with extremely low oxygen levels in areas of the pond.

Ground to surface aeration by Everyday Aquarist via Youtube.

Therefore, make sure you are always choosing the correct pond aeration system to both aerate from the top and bottom of the pond.

  • Higher oxygen stimulate the number of aerobic bacteria in the pond

In any pond habitat, there are billions of living bacteria at the bottom of the pond. Aerobic bacteria is bacteria that can only live and thrive in an oxygenated environment.  However, this bacteria also manifest important functions that involve the dissolution of organic debris and the breakdown of pond muck. It serves to note, too, that low bacteria levels can also result in an increase in organic build-up at the bottom of the pond, which you want to avoid at all costs. 

Bacteria molecules in pond water by Jasper Nance via Flikr.

In other words, if you have a build-up of organic debris, this can lead to unwanted changes in your water garden, such as discolored green water. This can be easily curtailed by increasing the amount of aerobic bacteria to sustain the constant organic load trickling into the pond. 

  • Aeration serves as a proxy for de-icing during the winter months

During the winter months, your filtration system and fish will be dormant. As this happens, the aforementioned organic debris will continue to decompose and release gas into the water. The gas then can become trapped in the ice which supplants the oxygen and in turn can be fatal to the fish.

Aerate Your Water Garden Pond PondH2o

Bird bath deicer by fishhawk via Flikr.

And while heaters and deicers can serve the useful purpose of providing ventilation, they can’t provide macro circulation for the gases throughout the pond. Thanks to aeration, this discourages ice formation and also helps distribute the toxic gases to the surface to be released and ensures your fish are safe during the winter months.

  • It’s a money saver, too

Aerate Your Water Garden Pond PondH2o

Saving money by 401 (K) 2012 via Flikr.

As mentioned previously, you can aerate your water garden by using a waterfall pump in the winter. However, this can be a quite draining (no pun intended) expense. Conversely, if you opt to use a properly sized solar aerator, this can nullify the need to use the waterfall pump on a regular basis, and thereby saving hundreds of dollars a year in the process, too.

  • Decrease overall pond maintenance 

By chronically running your solar aerator on a year-round basis, you can thereby drastically reduce both the maintenance you have to perform and the costs, too. In addition to the other benefits, an oxygen-rich water habitat enables a robust bacteria population which helps remove organic debris, nullify harmful gases and helps lower ammonia and nitrate levels, too. 

Aerate Your Water Garden Pond PondH2o

A koi pond near Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand by Siddarth Mallya via Wikimedia Commons.

Now that your pond is utilizing these aeration techniques, make sure to check out our Water Garden Koi Fish Pond Aeration Products from PondH2o to optimally oxygenate your water garden.

Be sure to check out our Information Center for other Pond Blogs.  As always, remember to check our Facebook page for coupons and news.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Buying Plants for Your Pond

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Buying Plants for Your Pond

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Buying Plants for Your Pond

Sometimes, water garden pond owners may choose an option for their pond that involves having an ecosystem bereft of plants.

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend you refrain from doing this.

For starters, there are many biological, utilitarian and aesthetic reasons to add plants to your pond, aside from creating a natural looking aquatic habitat.

We’ll delve into them here and give you some tips along the way, too.

  • Plants provide balance to the pond’s habitat

Aquatic plants serve a utilitarian and even exigent purpose for your pond’s ecosystem. They provide a natural means for biological filtration which removes nitrogen, nitrates, ammonia and other minerals that accompany algae accumulation—which you will want to avoid.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Buying Plants for Your Pond

Japanese killifish and aquatic plants by user via Wikimedia Commons.

The use of pond plant baskets is much easier than planting directly on the water garden pond bottom and marginal shelves.  Plastic plant pots make maintaining the plants, moving and placements effortless, while controlling the plants roots from spreading.  You can scour the internet, but you won’t find a better selection than PondH2o’s Pond Plant Care products.

  • They provide shelter

It might be viewed as a trivial form of utility, but plants also provide shelter for your koi fish, turtles or other pond life, too. More specifically, they will use the plants for shade during the hot sizzling summer months.

The Benefits and Drawbacks of Buying Plants for Your Pond - pondH2o

Pond plants providing a shaded area by ivabalk via Pixabay.

Your pond residents will also likely utilize plants to take cover from pond predators, like Herons, raccoons, domestic or feral cats and birds of prey. Additionally, pond plants also allow for an area for fish to spawn under and even a place for frogs to lay their eggs.

  • They help oxygenate the water 

Another benefit provided by a different sort of pond plant—i.g. submerged plants—can also help provide oxygen throughout the water for your fish. This is especially crucial during photosynthesis, when the plants shed oxygen in the pond water which in-turn purges harmful CO2 and other surfeit nutrients.

If you have a pond with a plentiful amount of fish, then you’ll need more dissolved oxygen dispersed throughout your pond.  It’s important to maintain a proper ratio of pond plants, and fish.

  • Your pond plants will require more maintenance

This is hardly a reason to abstain from buying plants for your pond (as mentioned above), but it’s good to acknowledge the reality that your overall maintenance will increase. Some plants will typically require more work than others, so make sure to consider your budget and time before purchasing.

Aquatic plants by Kirill Ignatyev via Flikr.

The aforementioned submerged-type plants are surprisingly some of the easier ones to care for, as some don’t need to be planted to the substrate as their roots can be firmly planted in the bottom sludge. 

  • Most benefits take awhile to manifest

The vast majority of benefits—like with dispersed oxygenation—take awhile to form. Take submerged plants, for example. While they can provide oxygen and filtration almost instantaneously, it could take months or possibly years to notice any visual difference in your pond water’s quality. Aquatic Pond Plants take some time to look natural, but be careful and do research to ensure that your plants will not take over the pond.

Aquatic plants in Rome, Italy by Daderot via Wikimedia Commons.

Check your local municipal laws regarding pond vegetation. Some water plants are illegal in certain areas.  Again, it is important to do research to ensure that the plants you have selected are best for your water garden koi fish pond and you. Remember, there are always fake plants and plenty of decor options to help you have the perfect backyard oasis.

For all our pond plant care products, browse from our online pond store filters, pumps and accessories today at PondH2o.

Top Tips for Taking Care of a Koi Fish Pond

Top Tips for Taking Care of a Koi Fish Pond

Our latest article on the top tips for taking care of a koi fish pond.  A koi fish, is a fish that can live up to more than three decades, nishikigoi, commonly known as koi, colorful carp fish that are kept as ornamental decorative pets in a backyard pond. 

Indeed, their average lifespans—upwards of 25 years—are protracted in captivity, which makes it even more crucial to create a healthy habitat for them.  However, sustaining a thriving koi pond can be tricky, especially for novices who lack necessary experience in these matters. No worries – that’s why Pond H2o is here to help with our Top Tips for Taking care of a Koi Fish Pond.

Here are some of the more exigent points to help you create and subsequently maintain a healthy koi fish pond.

  • Frequently change the water 

Top Tips for Taking Care of a Koi Fish Pond

A koi fish pond in the Kranji countryside, Singapore by Eustaquio Santimano via Flikr.

After the installation of your koi pond, evaporation will gradually take place over time, especially in warmer climates. This leads to a decrease in the water, which in turn leaves behind minerals and other substances that could eventually hinder its quality. Due to this inevitability, you will lose at least 10 to 15 percent of water on a weekly basis and need to refill the pond to the required level—depending on the size of your pond. Also, it is never recommended to do a full water change in your pond, as this will shock your fish and their habitat.

  • Monitor and control the algae

Fix algae problems in a fish pond

Algae-covered pond in Township, Michigan by Dwight Burdette via Wikimedia Commons.

During the filtration process—which we will delve into later—ammonia in the pond is transformed into nitrate—a harmless substance. However, nitrate allows algae to grow and thrive throughout, which can be detrimental to the koi. A superfluous amount of algae can deprive the koi of oxygen. To prevent this, use algaecides and carefully read the instructions, as the frequency of use will depend on the product in question. Perform regular tests on your pond water quality.

  • Make sure to clean your filter

Pond Cover Netting protect koi fishFish pond with a barrel used for the filter by cskk via Flikr.

Typically, most biological pond filters should be cleaned and maintained every two weeks. However, this largely depends on the ratio of fish to water, and the surrounding conditions, too.   You will also need to determine how often the filter needs to be backwashed. This can be done by checking the pressure gauge—if it is reading much higher than usual, then you’ll need to backwash it.

  • Seasonality

Plants & Decor in a pond to protect fishKoi pond meditation garden by Wonderlane via Flikr.

Your koi fish pond maintenance strategy will also be dependent on the season. During colder months, it is imperative to cut or trim all dying leaves from the aquatic plants.  Also the surface of your pond may freeze during the winter (depending where you live), so it’s important to purchase a floating pond aerator to put in one of the sections of the water to prevent freezing. 

For the spring and summer months, the time for pond cleaning becomes much easier, and more apparent—thanks to debris carried over from the winter. For this, transfer the koi to holding tanks to make for a more streamlined, expeditious cleaning process, since there will likely be a lot of debris to clean out and will ensure lower stress levels for the koi fish. 

  • Address and remedy any leaks

PondH2o Koi fish handling productsA koi pond by brewbooks via Wikimedia Commons. 

As mentioned, water levels decrease naturally due to evaporation. If the leakage is increasing, it’s probably safe to assume there is a leak. Overall, it is normal for a koi pond to lose about ½ inches of water per day. However, any loss greater than that rate is likely an indication there is a leakage. To stabilize the pond’s conditions, repair any leak(s) as soon as possible. 

For more of our products, specifically one that helps transfer your koi fish during a spring or summer cleaning, check out our heavy duty waterproof koi fish transport sock.

7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean

7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean

Whether you are a homeowner or environmental caretaker, keeping your pond clean with ease becomes a paramount issue for your koi fish pond or water garden. Follow our simple 7 tricks to keep you pond fresh and clean.

To that end, most vigilant water garden pond owners will know that clean water will factor into a salubrious pond. On the flip side, if you don’t know how to keep a pristine pond, this can be a challenge to say the least. And the telltale signs could be more subtle than you may think.

For example, your typical backyard koi fish pond or water garden water might look crystal clear, but if your fish are exhibiting unusual behavior, this could mean your pond needs to be cleaned.

With our 7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean, this process will be much easier for your precious water garden habitat.

1.) Curate and maintain a healthy fish population

7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean

Fisher in Oliver’s Pond by Clayton Sieg via Flikr.

One of the ways to determine whether your pond is sufficient to host a vibrant fish population is to assess the total fish to your gallon levels. For example, if you have a pond of 100 gallons or more, then you should have no more than 10” of fish. Otherwise, your aquatic paradise is likely over-populated, which can lead to a disproportionate level of fish waste.

If this is the case with you, then you may want to contact a pond retailer or third party contractor to buy your fish. This is generally an easy process and can be streamlined, too.

2.) Make sure to properly feed your fish

7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean

An artificial feeding pond for fishes by Avinashmambully via Wikimedia Commons.

This next tip should go without saying, but you would be surprised to find that many pond owners do not treat their fish well; and this can lead to some potentially intractable consequences. If you overfeed your fish, not only can this lead to likely potential health problems, but it can lead to detrimental issues for your pond, too.

For starters, the surplus amount of uneaten food will decay in the water. To prevent this, try to feed your fish no more than once per day and make sure to use quality fish food— preferably that floats. Always remove uneaten food.

3.) Sustain a healthy balance of plants

7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean

Fauna in a pond by FarfOuille via Pixabay.

During the peak times of the season, you should typically have anywhere from 40% to 60% of the surface area of your pond either covered in or shaded by flora. However, a surfeit amount of anything is typically not an efficacious scenario.

With too much flora, there comes an excess of oxygen which in turn stymies the photosynthetic process—which is crucial for plants to give off carbon dioxide. In other words, your fish need an ample amount of oxygen to survive. So a superfluous amount of plants could be detrimental to their survival.

4.) Choose the correct size pump for your pond

7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean

A solar-powered water fountain in a pond by Squigfried via Wikimedia Commons.

While this may seem like a trivial step, it’s crucial for the health and even safety for both the fish and the pond. Typically, you should be circulating the entirety of your pond’s water at a minimum rate of once per hour. Additionally, you should check the backfill of your pump to see if there is any internal obstruction.

As always, you want to make sure your upkeep products for your pond are up to date with exceptional quality. To better equip your aquatic masterpiece, check out our pond, which includes different filters (which we’ll cover later), pumps and other accessories.

5.) Invest in Quality Pond Tools

children kids pond net

Girl using a fishing net by USFWS via Pixnio.

This could be the simple fix your pond desperately needs. With a pond brush and other quality products, you’ll be able to remove unwanted algae—a common occurrence—or other floating debris that can abjectly affect the environment your fish need to thrive. These are typically inexpensive items, so you won’t necessarily have to take a cut from your pond budget to make purchases.

The processes are simple, too, as you’ll only have to spend about 10 minutes per day removing leaves, twigs and other debris from your pond. At the same time, you may want to invest in a skimmer net. Routine pond maintenance is a key to a healthy and clean pond.

6.) Choose the correct filtration system

PondH2o

Traditional coping on an NSP pool with adjoined side pond by Enricoslasheric via Wikimedia Commons.

As with your pump, your pond’s filter should also be comparable to the size of your pond. As with any other filter, remember to clean it regularly according to the instructions. For the size, you want it to be outfitted as close to the dimensions of your pond as possible, too.

For filters, there are generally types you should be aware of as a pond owner. There are Biological and Mechanical pond filter systems. They can be further broken down into Gravity filters and box style filters, which utilize both biological and mechanical filtration techniques to optimize beneficial bacteria.

7.) Maintain beneficial bacteria

7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean

Cyanobacteria in a freshwater pond by Christian Fischer via Wikimedia Commons.

Speaking of bacteria, adding this to your pond is actually instrumental to a continual healthy life cycle. By specifically infusing biodegradable bacteria packs once per month, for instance, you’ll be ensuring a clean pond.

When adding any pond water treatment, you’ll need to know the total gallons of your pond.  In order to properly add the appropriate amount of the aforementioned water treatment. Always remember to scrupulously read the instructions, and follow product guidelines.

 

For more information on how to clean your pond and help ensure you are using the correct products for clarity, health and appearance, make sure to check out our selection of pond filter media and follow these simple 7 Tricks to Keep Your Pond Fresh and Clean.

How to build a Pond

How To Build a Pond That Will Stun Your Friends

Nothing says showstopper like a pond. In design shows and home listings, water features are always spotlighted as a major attraction for any home.

When you have guests over for dinner and family visiting for the holidays, they’re sure to notice your lovely new addition. And the feeling of pride only gets deeper when you share with them that you built it yourself.

A custom-made garden pond can be just the project you need to test your home improvement capabilities. Below we will help you determine  how to build a pond of your own, and dealing with the many decisions that will come up.

How to Build a Pond

Find The Perfect Spot

Determining where you want your pond to live is the first major step in getting your project underway. It’s best to start with relatively flat and level ground that is also close enough to an electrical source for the equipment to be powered. However a solar pond pump is an option for those wanting to save energy.

Another thing to keep in mind is the amount of sunlight your pond will receive. Not only will the sun shining across the surface of the water look better, but plants that will end up there will thank you later. It’s also best not to have a tree hanging over your pond as falling debris can get your pond dirty and clog the pond filter.

Once all the planning is done, you can move on to the heavy lifting.

Water garden koi pond cover netting pond protection

Start Digging And Fill It Up

There is going to have to be a bit of consideration before you just start ripping dirt out of the ground. As you prepare for breaking ground you should decide on the size, depth, and volume of the pond. These will be important determinations for how much you dig and what kind of equipment you will need later. 

The bigger you go, the more money will be needed for its overall construction and maintenance. Remember also to keep in mind where underground pipes may be in your backyard when going about this part of the process.

Once you have your hole dug up, you need to pick a pond liner and fill with water.

Set Up The Equipment

Now comes the “complicated” part. Depending on the type of pond you decide to make there can be several types of equipment needed for it to be set-up.

Any pond that you plan on maintaining will need at least a pond pump to keep the water moving and a pond filter for the water to move through and rid itself of contaminants that can ruin the look and health of the pond.

If you want, this is the best time to add any extra features like a pond fountain or waterfall. If you plan on having fish more equipment will be needed to ensure they have a healthy environment like a pond aerator or airstone for oxygenating the water. Now would also be a good time to situate and set-up any lighting you want to have for the pond.

Give It Life

Now that the base work is done and all the equipment is set-up, you can finally do the decorative work that will make your pond look beautiful. Adding plant life and vegetation that are appropriate for the amount of sunlight your pond receives will instantly bring color to the project.

For those adding fish, make sure you take the necessary measures to prepare the health of the pond, like temperature and pH balance, for the fish to be introduced. Many fish also require time to acclimate, this can mean letting it remain in its bag of water floating in the pond while the temperature becomes the same as the pond.

Finally, after all your work, your pond is ready for the world to see.

Remember To Maintain your Pond

After the pond has been completed it’s important to keep up with the routine maintenance that is needed. Skim the pond to clean out leaves and debris that make their way in, check the pump to make sure it’s running, and replace the filter when needed. Also make sure to keep and plants properly watered and to spray down any decorative pieces with the hose to keep them clean.

The fish owners will have some extra steps to keep up with. Feeding is the obvious chore that will need to be done, but routinely checking the pH balance and maintaining all fish related pond supplies is important to keep them healthy.

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Enjoy Your Brand New Pond

All your hard work has finally paid off because now you get to enjoy the ambiances and serenity of your custom built water feature. Pull up a hammock, a chair, or whatever lounge seating you prefer and listen to the gentle water ripples as you sit back and relax with a drink and a book.

Your pond will also be sure to be the envy of all your family and friends and quite the talking point at every get together.

Pond H2O Has All The Equipment You Need!

For all ponds, big and small Pond H2o has the supplies you need to make your dream water feature come to life! When we say we have all the supplies you need, we mean it, we are a one-stop shop for all that you need. From maintenance to fish care and lighting, including how to build a pond, we have you covered! If you have any questions call us at 856-985-9339 or email us at info@pondh2o.com.

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